2015 Texas Six Shooter, Grade 2

PADDYS DAY Makes a Statement

in the 2015 Grade 2 Texas Six Shooter Stake

February 21, 2015- Sam Houston Race Park - PADDYS DAY was out to prove a point and emerged victorious in the $27,750 Texas Six Shooter for Colts and Geldings, the second Grade 2 event of the evening for purebred Arabians.

This race sets the stage for quite an entertaining rivalry for 2015- a rivalry, in fact, that started before the race began. Many of last year's top 3 year olds came together again to match their skills in this first big stakes challenge of 2015.

PADDYS DAY dueled for the lead with Darley Nominee Lazur Hess, and moving into the final turn he came in towards the rail, causing jockey Jacob Radosevich to check his mount. PADDYS DAY, ridden by jockey Kelsi Purcell, was kept in a drive to the end and went clear by 8 lengths. A stewards inquiry was held concerning the stretch run, but no action was taken. The final time for the 7 furlongs was 1:33.67.

PADDYS DAY is a bay colt by Burning Sand, out of AK Loretta, by Virgule Al Maury. He was bred by Jane Teutsch, and is owned and trained by Scott Powell of Quarter Moon Ranch. PADDYS DAY finished out the 2014 year as the number 4 3-year-old colt by earnings in the USA, and his record now stands at 4 wins from 5 lifetime races. This is his first graded stakes win.

Capturing the early lead and in front until the final turn, Lazur Hess was steadied but recovered to make a bid again and held onto second place. Lazur Hess, a grey colt by Dahess out of Rzoe Lute, by Makzan, is trained by Lynn Ashby and owned/bred by Mark Ashby.

Coming third was Es Mi Cielo, a lovely grey colt by Burning Sand out of Heaven Kan Wait, by Virgule Al Maury owned and bred by Sam Vasquez and trained by Renee Lafleur.

The rest of the finishers in order were RB So Rich, Sand Victor, and MY Thunder Bolt.